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“0 God, who invisibly upholdest all things,and for the salvation of mankind dost visiblyshow them the signs of Thy power; glorifythis temple by virtue of,Thy indwelling, andgrant that all who shall assemble hither topray, in whatsoever tribulation they shallcall upon Thee, may obtain the grace of Thyconsolation.”

(From the ~cMass of &? Dedicationof a Church”)

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1 The covers of this book are sponsored by:The Santa Cruz Farms, Eloy. ArizonaIn memorv of the late Mr. Steve D’Arrigo. Sr.by Steve and Andrew D’Arrigo

Saint Helen’s ChurchELOY, ARIZONA

Sunday, December the fourteenth, 4:00 P.M.

OPEK’ING I IYMK:

“Ewe Sacerdos Magnus”By the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Saint Anthony’s Parish in Casa

Grandc, and the Choir of the Saint Anthony’s Church in Casa Grande

THF: BLESSING OF THE NEW CHURCH:

By the Most Reverend Daniel J. Gcwke, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese ofTucson

THE SINGING OF THE LITANY OF TIiE SAINTS:

By the Revwcnd Clcw:y

TI !I3 DEDICATION SERMON :

By the Very Rcvrrmd Monsigm Robert J. Donohoc, Pastor of the SaintAgnes Church, Phoenix, Arizona

AN ADDRESS BY THE MOST REVEREND BTSHOI’

SOLEMN BENEDICTION OF ‘I’IIE IKESSED SACRAMENT:

Celebrant: The Most Reverend Daniel J. Gercke, D.D., Bishop of TucsonDeacon: The Reverend Father Sylvio J. Ross, Pastor of Casa GrandcSub-Dcaron: Thtb Reverend Fat her Henry Miller, Pastor of CoolidgrHymns by thcl Reverend Sisters, and by thy choir of Saint Anthony’s

Parish, Casa Cmnclc, Ai%xma

HIS HOLINESS

PR.\YER FOR OUR HOLY FATlIER

“May the Lord prcswve him, and giwhim life, and makrx him ~~lessed upon rarth,and &liver him not up to tlw nil1 of hisenemies.“

OUR BELOVED BISHOP

HIS EXCELLENCY,THE MOST REVEREND

DANIEL J. CERCKE, D.D .Bisimp of the Diocese of TUCSC~, A r~ixmtr

Ordained a Priest of God, June 1,1901Consecrated Bishop of the Tucson Diocese:

November 6, 1923

THE REVERENDFATHER SYLVIO J. ROSS

in

Sincerest Gratitude

to

Father Ross

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Pastor and parishioners of Saint Helen’s Parish lift up their hearts today to AlmightyGod in deepest thanksgiving for this new “House of God and Gate of Heaven” in Eloy, Arizona.

We thank in particular our Most Reverend Bishop for his most zealous interest and assist-ance in the building of the new Saint Helen’s Church.

We express our most hrartfelt gratitude to the Rcvt>rmd Father Sylvio J. Ross, Pastor ofC?sa Grande and former Pastor of’ Eloy, for the new church xvhich Eloy now rnjoys. The ne\fchurch is Father Ross’s dream come true for the souls of Eloy. Only God can reward him for ther+ountlrss labors and sacrifices which he has made to procure this beautiful church for God’s Gloryin Eloy.

May Almighty God bless and reward eternally the faithful parishioners and many friends ofSaint Helen’s parish whose many donations have made possible the construction of the new church.

Our sincerest appreciation and congratulations go out to Mr. Samuel Grrcke, the builder ofthe church: and to his foremen, Mr. Dan Cannie and Mr. Ray Richlenberg; and to the sub-con-tractors and workmen of the various trades for the splendid edifice which they have built.

In our fervent prayers today we brsecch God to bless a hundred-fold all those \vho havehelped in any \vay to bring to completion the new Saint H&n’s Church in Eloy, Arizona.

Eloy Becomes a ParishSince May 1932, Eloy has been a Mission of Casa Grande. The Priests from Casa Grande have

served the people of Eloy most faithfully while Eloy has been a Mission, However, during the pastfew years the population of Eloy has grown tremendously. In order that the spiritual needs of

Eloy may be served more adequately in view of the increased number of souls, our Most Rever-end Bishop has determined to make Eloy a separate parish. In October of this year at a meeting

of the Bishop and his Consultors, Eloy was erected Canonically as a permanent parish. The Rev-erend Father Paul 5. Rook, former Assistant at Casa Grande, was appointed as the new and firstresident Pastor of Saint Helen’s Parish in Eloy.

THE REVEREND

FATHER PAUL J, ROOK

Fir&l?midmt Pastor of Eloy

Former Assistant at Saint Anthony’s Parkh

in Cam Grande

Appointed Pastor on October 25, 1952

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company, ElOY

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Pictorial Highlights of the Old Saint Helen’s Church

THE REVEREND FATHER PATRICK J. MURPHY

First Resident Pastor of Saint Anthony’s Parish in Casa Grande,

and of the Missions of Eloy and Coolidge

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The people of Eloy hold most cherished memories of the late Father Patrick J. Murphy, thefirst resident Pastor of the Casa Grande-Coolidge-Eloy territory. Father Murphy can truly becalled the “Apostle of Pinal County.” In his tireless zeal for souls, he built the new Saint Antho-ny’s Church and Rectory in Casa Grande, the Saint James Church in Coolidge, the Saint DismasChapel at the prison in Florence, and the first Saint Helen’s Church in Eloy. Father Murphy wasappointed as Pastor of Casa Grande and its Missions on May 3&t, 1932. In just ten years Al-mighty God called him home to his eternal reward. However, in the few years of his Priesthoodin this territory, Father Murphy fulfilled a long life by his great deeds for God. As is written onhis tombstone in Mountain View Cemetery in Casa Grande: “His works are written on tablets oflove and memory.” May God reward him forever.

Father Murphy completed the first Saint Helen’s Church in Eloy in 1936 with the help ofthe faithful people of Eloy. The church was dedicated on December 12, 1936, with a Solemn Mass.A barbecue was served on the church grounds at noon. The Indians of Guadalupe Village enter-tained with some of their dances.

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The Men of the Sunshine VnlleyRanch, Eloy

After the death of Father Murphy, several Pastors and Assistantshave served Saint Anthony’s Parish in Casa Grande, and its Missions ofEloy and Coolidge. Countless spiritual work has been done by these vari-ous Priests. In Eloy especially there can be seen a deep abiding faith inthe hearts of the people, a faith that has been enkindled and nourishedby the zealous priests who have served in this territory. The followingare the Priests who have been stationed in Casa Grande since the timeof Father Murphy:

The Reverend Father Bernard Healy,present Pastor of Sacred Heart Church inTucson, served as Pastor of Casa Grandeand its missions from March 1942 untilApril 1943.

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Nacho’s Tamale Shop, Eloy

The Reverend Father James MC-Fadden, Pastor from April 1943until March 1948. Father McFad-den is now Pastor of Holy AngelsChurch in Globe, Arizona.

The Reverend Father MichaelMcGovern, native of Ireland, wasAssistant Pastor from May 1946until February 1949. Father Mc-Govern is the Pastor now of thenew Saint Luke’s Parish in Doug-las, Arizona.

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Ellis md Suit, Attorneys. Eloy

Guadalupe Market. Eloy

The Miller Hardware, Eloy

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The Reverend Father Victor Sto-ner was Pastor from March 1948until September 1949. Father Sto-ner is at present a Reverend Chap-lain at the Newman Center at theUniversity of Arizona in Tucson.

The Reverend F’ather Bartholo-mew Horan, a native of Ireland,served as Assistant from March1949 until April 19551. FatherHoran is now Assistant at SaintPatrick’s in Bisbee.

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The Foxworth-Cnlbmith LumberCmwmny, Eloy

Thr Caudill Furniture ComWnYeE’OY

The Hodres PharmarY. F,lOYThe Kaufman Store, Eloy

The Reverend Father Sylvio J.Ross, Pastor of Casa Grande, hasbeen Pastor of Casa Grande andEloy since September 1949.

The Reverend Father Paul J.Rook became Assistant to CasaGrande and Eloy in April 1951.On October 24th, he was madePastor of Eloy.

The Reverend Father Leo Stofke,present Assistant in Casa Grande,became Assistant to Casa Grandeand Eloy in December 1951, ‘.

This pale sponsored by : ( I “,Miss Loretts Lopez. Eloy il I!The First National Bank, Eloy

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The Coming of The Sisters ofSaint Dominic to Casa Grande

One of the greatest spiritual blessings to Casa Grande, Coolidge, and Eloy was the comingof the Sisters of Saint Dominic from Adrian, Michigan, to serve in this territory. The first Sisters

to serve in Casa Grande were Sister Rose Dominic and Sister Margaret Clare. They arrived in

Casa Grande on August 23, 1944. The work which the Sisters of Saint Dominic have done forGod’s Glory here in Casa Grande, Coolidge, and Eloy has been a most Apostolic work in a desert

country amidst many sacrifices and crosses. The fruits of their labors can now be seen most

clearly in the hundreds of devout souls whom the Sisters have instructed in the ways of God and

of eternal life. The people of Eloy can thank Almighty God on bended knee for the privilege of

having the Sisters of Saint Dominic to teach Catechism Classes in Eloy since September 1944.i..-

A picture of some of the children of Eloy in front of the old Church taken

October 1952. Left to right: Sister John Vianney, Sister Mary Neil, and

Sister James Martin.

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Toltw Guest House. Toltec

During the past ten years, the town of Eloy has grown tremendously. Many Catholic familieshave come to Eloy to take up residence in the fastest growing cotton and agricultural territoryin the State. The old Saint Helen’s Church built by the late Father Murphy soon became too smallfor the numerous Catholics who flocked to the small adobe church to worship. In the year 1946,Father James McFadden, the then Pastor of Casa Grande, Coolidge, and Eloy, had the old churchenlarged to accommodate the ever-increasing number of Catholics in Eloy. Father McFadden andFather Michael McGovern, the Assistant at that time, were also able to obtain a former army bar-rack building from the Coolidge Air Base. This was remodeled by the men of the parish to makea beautiful church hall. Many dinners, social events, and meetings have since been held in this hallto make money towards the new church.

In the year 1948, a great blessing was received in the form of four lots of property whichwere donated to the church. Mr. John Alsdorf, one of the staunch Catholics of Eloy, gave thechurch these lots as a future site L U new church. These lots are ideally situated near the PublicHigh School. When Father Sylvio J. Ross became Pastor of Casa Grande and Eloy in the year1949, Mr. Alsdorf gave the rest of the whole block of land, adjacent to his previous donation, Itwas foreseen that Eloy would some day be a separate parish and sufficient property would beneeded some day for a complete parish plant.

In September of the year 1949 when Father Sylvio J. Ross became the Pastor of Casa Grandeand Eloy, the catholic population of Eloy had become so large that the old Saint Helen’s Churchwas entirely inadequate. During the cotton harvest especially, hundreds of devout Nationalsfrom Mexico came to work in Eloy. It was almost impossible for them to attend Holy Mass onSunday, because the old church was filled to capacity with the resident Catholics. Father Rossimmediately began to plan for a new church in Eloy.

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O’M~lley Lumber Company.Caria Grande

TYPICAL BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING

One of the many Committee meetings is shown here: Left to right inback row: Gilbert Castillo, Jesus Flores, Ramon Montijo, Manuel Rosales,Frank Arredondo, Ricardo Rosales, Santiago Rosales. Seated: A. J. Bat-taglia, Father Sylvio J. Ross, Joseph Venza, John Alsdorf, and JohnConway.

In October of the year 1951, sufficient funds had been raised to justify the commencing ofa new church in Eloy. The people of Eloy were extremely happy to learn that the new churchwhich they had looked forward to for so many years was soon to begin. Our Most Reverend Bishopgave his wholehearted permission and encouragement to Father Ross concerning the proposednew church. Father Ross formed a building committee, and soon plans were drawn for a beauti.

ful and spacious new church.

On December 5, 1951, Father Ross held the blessing and breaking of the ground for the newSaint Helen’s Church, He was assisted by the Reverend Father Don Hughes, Pastor of SaintAmbrose Church in Tucson; the Reverend Father Thomas R. Lambert, Editor of The CatholicRegister in Tucson; by the Reverend Father Horan, Assistant of Saint Patrick’s in Bisbee andformer Assistant at Casa Grande; by the Reverend Father Paul Rook, Assistant at that time inCasa Grande and Eloy; by Mr. Samuel J. Gercke, of Tucson, who was to be the builder of thenew church; and by several of the members of the building committee.

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CEREMONY UNDER DIFFICULTIES

Drenching rain and strong winds met the principals for the blessing and

breaking of the ground on December 5, 1951. Shown with Father Ross,who performed the ceremonies, are: Left to right: Ramon Montijo, Augus-tus Battaglia, Joakin Escandon, Joseph Venza, Father Sylvio 5. Ross,Father Paul J. Rook, and Santiago Rosales.

HISTORY (continued)

During the winter months, further necessary plans were made and in the month of April theactual work on the new Saint Helen’s Church was commenced. By September the church buildingwas completed. Finishing touches were added and the church furnishings were supplied, and byOctober the church was ready for use. Father Sylvio J. Ross offered the First Masses in thenew church on Sunday, October the twelfth. On that day Father Ross also baptized the firstchild in the new church. Christopher Vasquez, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Vasquez Jr wasbaptized. Mr. and Mrs. John Conway were the God-parents. All services since that day havf;:beenheld in the new church.

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The Holstein Pew Manufnrturers,Hartford, Corm.

Steel trusses point skyward to hold the roof for the new Temple of Godin Eloy. Through the beautiful entranceway thousands of souls shall enterto worship God and receive the Bread of Eternal Life.

Brick and steel construction make a beautiful and lasting edifice.

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